Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-06
HOW IT FEELS 10 BE ETHERIxED.
A Patient Describes How He Tell into
. Dream Unlike Sleep.

A Patient Describes How He FeM into
= Dream Unlike Sleep.
From the Pail Man Gazette.
The doctor got out his ether apparatus ana soon
compounded smell like photographers shop
In oioen days while out OF the corner OF my eye I
could see the surgeon, who had taken or his coat
and pulled some guards over his wrists and arms
arranging his weapons In Q neat row on the dress
ing table. When the doctor had got his machine
ready he placed It over my nose and mouth. with
instructions TO breathe deeply two or three times
The apparatus used for giving ether consists of q
box In which the compound is placed,
and an oval India-ruboer mask. very
plant and flexible, projecting from II,
with . tap which allows communication
between the two parts to be cut on or
established at viii. The mask part was placed
over my face, and inhaled deeply once Or twice
c With the only result that was seized with
lowed by q pleasant and restful sensation. I
felt as II were gently doing on on q warm sum-
down by my sides that they might not interfere
with my breathing. The doctor bent over me and
raised an eyelid' but was Wide enough awake to
though and felt was beginning to lose conscious.
ness. The light seemed gently to fade away, CIV
Bile, but soft and restful There was no giddiness
or singing In the ears but silence and darkness set
tied down over me, and then a red veil seemed to
red spot, the only speee Of light efI Slowly this
faded away, and sight, hearing volition and every
sense with 1t. had a dim Consciousness OF ex-
1stence, but my very life seemed far away, buried
under masses az soft darkness. l do not know
whether spoke, but my brain was blank, and
not thought crossed my mind. All was numb.
dead and still, the silence OF the grave but with
faint, 1ndef1nable consciousness somewhere that
This was not DEATH but only the suspension of life
DarkneSS was all around; not darkness that
might be felt, but one that filled everything COW
cred everything, and blotted out everything with
0lack, fmpalpable and all-pervadng presence.
Gradually and softly as 1t went the light came
Dack again, with no startled wonder as to where
was, for almost before 1 could shape thought
That the operation was over. The figures in the
room grew distinct and clear. half rose up In
bed, and then q horrible feeling OF nausea and
pain rushed upon me. had lain down strong
and well. woke up weak and throbbing with
pain under my bandages, and with a sickness
such as had believed could only be produced In
Alderney Race on board a cattle-bOat.
splendid" cried the surgeon. cheerfully; call
over, rrst-rate!" and he turned down his shirt
sleeves after tossing away the towel with which
he had dried his hands My first thought was to
ask the time. 'NOt much more than a quarter Of
an hour over it." was the reply; 81 dare say you'll
they had cut me and carved me, sewn me up and
oandaged me without my ever knowing that
nad been touched, but could hardly feel grateful
to the anesthetic, for the nausea 1t produced was
SO intense. Ny mouth, throat and lungs felt
coated with ether and dried with smoke and
could well imagine what the mouth OF a photo
grapher's boy would be like after prolonged de-
Dauch on brown paper cigars soaked In cOllOdiOn.
Still, the ether had saved me from much suffer-
ing, and, what was OF more importance, had pre-
vented the skill OF the operator being baked by
any ftnching. Everything had been done swiftly,
or moving. The knife is sure and sharp nowadays
and does not bunGle,